Self closing toothpaste tube

ABSTRACT

A cream holding tube of molded plastic. This tube includes an automatic valve portion at the forward end which when the rear of the tube is squeezed will open due to cantilevers and a bellows portion. When pressure is released from the body of the tube, the accordion like portion of the valve will cause the opening to close.

United States Patent [151 3,685,700 Martin [451 Aug. 22, 1972 [54] SELF CLOSING TOOTHPASTE TUBE 2,997,216 8/1961 Henry ..222/490 72 Inventor: William A. M i 573 Aster 2,546,709 3/ 195 1 Abarr ..222/2 1 3 Escondido C lif 92025 2,331,078 10/1943 Peak ..222/490 [22] Filed Aug 17 1970 2,283,463 5/1942 Rupp ..222/494 X [21] Appl. No.: 64,225 Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner--Norman L. Stack, Jr.

[52] US. Cl. 222/213 [51] Int. Cl. mesa 39/14 [57] ABSTRACT Field of Search 215, 498, A cream holding tube of molded plastic. This tube in- 107 eludes an automatic valve portion at the forward end which when the rear of the tube is squeezed will open [56] References cued due to cantilevers and a bellows portion. When pres- UNITED STATES PATENTS sure iS released fr Ol'l'l the body Of the tube, the 8.060!- 3 179 301 4/1965 L h't 222/490 X dion like portion of the valve will cause the opening to uc Glow 2,765,958 10/1956 Betts, Jr .....222/215 X 2,878,973 3/1959 Hertz ..222/2l5 X 1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures portion, a bellows like structure which will act in conjunction with cantilevers, causing the end to open and allow toothpaste to be dispensed therefrom, the arrangement automatically closing the opening when pressure is released from the tube.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the type described which may be adapted for all types of creams that are normally dispensed from tubes.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a self closing tube which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the present invention shown in elevation and partly broken away, the valve portion being shown in open and the shipping cap is shown removed therefrom; and

FIG. 2 is an enlargedview taken along the lines 2-2 of F IG. 1.

According to this invention, a self closing toothpaste tube 10 is shown to include a molded plastic body 11 having a channel member 12 crimped onto one end 13. The other end of body 11 consists of an automatic valve 14 which prior to use is covered by means of cap 15 which is snappably engaged over valve 14 when tube 10 is shipped. Valve 14 includes an upper portion 17 and a lower portion 18 that defines the mouth 19 from which the cream is dispensed when pressure is applied to the rear of body 11 by the finger of the user. Within valve 14 are a pair of cantilevers 20 which operate in conjunction with the internal corrugated portion 21.

It shall be noted that the upper and lower portions 17 and 18 are molded integral with body 11 of tube 10.

In use, when body 11 is squeezed by the fingers of the user at its rear end, the pressure of the paste or cream causes the corrugaged portion 21 to urge the upper section 17 and the lower section 18 open so that the paste or cream may be urged out of the mouth 19 formed by the valve 14 action. When the pressure upon body 1 l is removed therefrom, the springy action of the material (plastic) plus the springy action of the cantilevers 20, will close the mouth 19 therefore eliminating any possibly drip of or waste of paste or cream. The inherent automatic closing of tube 10 makes it ideal for use by children, and also makes it possible to prevent evaporation or hardening of the paste or cream when the cap 15 is not replaced.

What I claim is:

l. A self-closing toothpaste tube, comprising a hollow body made of molded resilient plastic material for holding toothpaste or cream, one end of said tube being ermanentl closed, the other e d f th tube havin n automatic pressure operated vafve that maintain said other end normally closed, but which is automatically opened when said body is squeezed for dispensing said toothpaste or cream; said automatic valve comprising a hollow bulb integral with said other end of said body, said bulb consisting of a rounded inner wall in spaced relation inside of a rounded outer wall, the end of said outer wall being open so that a mouth end of said inner'wall projects therethrough, said mouth being openable and consisting of upper and lower portions, said inner wall having inward extending corrugations integral therewith, said outer wall having inwardly projecting cantilever members bearing against an outer side of said inner wall so to normally maintain said mouth upper and lower portions in a closed position when said body is not squeezed, and said corrugations normally closing a passage between said hollow body and said mouth when said body is not squeezed but which will flex to open said passage when said body is squeezed. 

1. A self-closing toothpaste tube, comprising a hollow body made of molded resilient plastic material for holding toothpaste or cream, one end of saiD tube being permanently closed, the other end of the tube having an automatic pressure operated valve that maintains said other end normally closed, but which is automatically opened when said body is squeezed for dispensing said toothpaste or cream; said automatic valve comprising a hollow bulb integral with said other end of said body, said bulb consisting of a rounded inner wall in spaced relation inside of a rounded outer wall, the end of said outer wall being open so that a mouth end of said inner wall projects therethrough, said mouth being openable and consisting of upper and lower portions, said inner wall having inward extending corrugations integral therewith, said outer wall having inwardly projecting cantilever members bearing against an outer side of said inner wall so to normally maintain said mouth upper and lower portions in a closed position when said body is not squeezed, and said corrugations normally closing a passage between said hollow body and said mouth when said body is not squeezed but which will flex to open said passage when said body is squeezed. 